Chapter 3: Building the Team
Adam Chue's legs burned as he trudged through the forest, the faint glow of the city lights guiding him. The weight of the coin in his pocket seemed heavier with every step, a constant reminder of how drastically his life had changed in the past few hours.
By the time he reached the city outskirts, dawn was breaking, casting a pale orange glow across the skyline. He slipped back into his apartment unnoticed, shutting the door behind him and leaning against it. His breath came in short gasps, his mind still racing from his narrow escape.
The coin hummed faintly in his pocket, its presence both comforting and unnerving. The ability it had granted him—the power to appraise objects—felt like a blessing and a curse. It was invaluable, yes, but it had already painted a target on his back.
"Who were those guys?" Adam muttered, pacing the small room. "How did they know about the warehouse?"
His thoughts were interrupted by the faint pulse of the map in his vision. The glowing points had shifted slightly, the red and blue lights seeming to swirl in subtle patterns. As he focused, another red point lit up, this one further away but still within the city.
Adam's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in hours. He grabbed a piece of bread from the counter and sank into a chair, chewing slowly as he studied the map. He couldn't do this alone—that much was clear. If the men from the warehouse were part of a larger group, he needed allies.
But who could he trust?
Later that day, Adam found himself in the bustling heart of the city, the streets alive with the chatter of vendors and the hum of traffic. His destination was a café tucked away in a quieter neighborhood, a place he hadn't visited in months.
Inside, the air was warm and fragrant, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. At a corner table sat a familiar figure—a man with dark, shoulder-length hair and a sharp, calculating gaze.
"Ryan Wu," Adam said, sliding into the seat across from him.
Ryan looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement. "Adam Chue. Haven't seen you in a while. What brings you here?"
"I need your help."
Ryan leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "That's a first. What kind of help?"
Adam hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Do you still do... freelance work?"
Ryan smirked. "You mean treasure hunting? Yeah, I dabble. Why?"
Adam leaned in, lowering his voice. "I found something. Something big."
Ryan's eyes narrowed. "Define 'big.'"
Adam hesitated, then pulled the coin from his pocket and placed it on the table. Ryan's expression shifted instantly, his casual demeanor replaced by sharp focus.
"What is that?" Ryan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's called a red treasure," Adam said, keeping his tone low. "It's... hard to explain, but it has abilities. And there are more out there."
Ryan stared at the coin for a long moment before meeting Adam's gaze. "You're serious about this?"
"Dead serious," Adam replied. "I need people I can trust, people who can handle themselves in dangerous situations. Are you in?"
Ryan considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But if we're doing this, we're doing it right. No half-measures."
Their first stop was a rundown gym on the edge of the city. The smell of sweat and rubber filled the air as they entered, the sound of punching bags being struck echoing through the space.
At the center of the room stood a woman in her late twenties, her short-cropped hair damp with sweat. She was sparring with a man twice her size, her movements precise and relentless.
When the sparring match ended, the woman grabbed a towel and turned to them. "What do you want, Ryan?" she asked, her tone curt but not unfriendly.
"Good to see you too, Mia," Ryan said with a grin. "I've got a job for you."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "What kind of job?"
Adam stepped forward, holding out the coin. "The kind that involves treasures like this."
Mia's eyes widened as she studied the coin. "Is that... real?"
"Very real," Adam said. "And very dangerous. We're putting together a team to find more of these. Are you in?"
Mia hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But if this gets messy, I'm out."
With Ryan and Mia on board, Adam felt a flicker of hope. They were skilled, experienced, and most importantly, they didn't ask too many questions. But as they left the gym, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind.
The men from the warehouse were still out there, and they wouldn't stop until they found him.
As if on cue, the map pulsed in his vision, drawing his attention to a new red point. This one was further away, on the outskirts of the city. Adam stopped in his tracks, his heart racing.
"What is it?" Ryan asked.
Adam didn't answer immediately. He stared at the glowing point, a sense of urgency washing over him.
"We've got another lead," he said finally.
Ryan and Mia exchanged a glance. "Already?" Mia asked.
"Yeah," Adam said. "And if we don't move fast, someone else will beat us to it."
Ryan grinned. "Then let's get moving."
As they set off toward the next location, Adam couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The city felt different now, its shadows deeper and its streets more treacherous.
But with the coin in his pocket and a growing team by his side, Adam knew one thing for certain: he was no longer walking this path alone. And whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them head-on.